Value For Money

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This ship,the Island Escape gave poor service.Restaurants crowded,long queues.Plastic plates in self service restaurant with no access to wine during the meal.Entertainment very poor ,laptops crashing regularly.Theatre show excellent.Towels bedding and beds well below standard in our inside cabin deck 9.All inclusive drinks package very poor.Not as described in the brochure You will be charged for coffees at the bars;we expected to pay for speciality coffees only.Many people complaining. Too…
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Lorrainedenholm's Response to marlene.shearn's Review

Written on: 01/04/2013

Sorry to hear that its not up to scratch... we are due to go in a couple of weeks... not too fussed for the standard restaurants, dont mind paying a bit extra for a la carte restaurant. Heard about coffees. Re all inclusive, is the wine included in the a la carte restaurant? Is it likely to be cold on board? Not sure what to expect, our first cruise!

Carollala's reply to Lorrainedenholm's Comment

Written on: 18/04/2013

It is a wonderful ship it may be old but I loved the food entertainment, staff can't so enough for you, my mum who is disabled was helped all the time, I honestly loved it last September and have rebooked for this September it's all inclusive this year , I can't wait to get a warm and friendly welcome as before, you will love it !

This ship,the Island Escape gave poor service.Restaurants crowded,long queues.Plastic plates in self service restaurant with no access to wine during the meal.Entertainment very poor ,laptops crashing regularly.Theatre show excellent.Towels bedding and beds well below standard in our inside cabin deck 9.All inclusive drinks package very poor.Not as described in the brochure You will be charged for coffees at the bars;we expected to pay for speciality coffees only.Many people complaining. Too…
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This is the second time in two years have been on this ship. Was told two years ago cabins would be updated, but they are just as bad and now need a complete refit. The bathroom was very poor the plug in the sink did not work, the shower was awful with a horrible blue plastic shower curtain. The beachcomber restuarant had wobbly tables and split seats and was very 70's. The theatre was so uncomfortable with really old fashioned chairs and tables. I must say that the cabins are kept spotless…
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We booked Island Escape Glitz and Glamour and Best of the Med, 21st Aug -4th Sept 2012. Our first experience of a cruise ship holiday for our Silver Wedding Anniversary. We were not dissapointed. Everything the brochure said it did. The staff were very welcoming and worked so hard to make our stay a perfect one. The ship areas were always clean and again staff worked very hard to maintain this. We did do a few excursions, Rome and Cannes but next time will try to explore more on our own.
We…
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my husband had never been on a cruise before, as i have.
He thought it was great and cant wait to go again.
the reviews were not to good, but we had a lovely time.
we had a special welcome package of strawberrys in chocolate
champane and flowers that lasted all week, in our room when arrived on board.
on our special day we had breakfast in our cabin [lovely] then we did the
trip Rome in a day that was fab high light of our week.
came back to the ship and had a special dinner at oasis…
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This has to be one of the best Cruise Ships I have ever been on! It was so amazing and I had great fun, it was so enjoyable for the whole family and i cant wait to go again, i think that the holiday was the best ever and it was so worth leaving my cat for two weeks, what a stunner!…
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First cruise and will not be last. The crew on this cruise are excellent nothing to much trouble your every whim attended to. We were a party of 4 just in our 50`S and can honestly say that this was an very good holiday.The room may be a bit dated but was spotless cleaned by our cabin steward Nina 2/3 a day clean towels twice a day,cabin towels and pool towels. Each day she would make a different animal out of our towels brilliant!Plenty of wardrobe space was amazed,and ample draws.Only one…
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Now were do I start, this was my first cruise with my partner and it was amazing. I was somewhat apprehensive about the cruise after reading some negative reviews, how sad that people would have these reviews. Anyway lets get started.... Buffet food was casual and wholesome, waiting staff were fun and friendly, Ocean Restaurant is would the visit 3 courses for £14.99 and the service is outstanding.....if you have read its a 'cash free ship' it is dont panic thou its reall quite simple, as this…
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My husband and I and two friends enjoyed this cruise last june2011,we had a really good time so good we booked for this June. Yes we agree it is a tired ship and does need updating, but all the staff etc were very friendly. The food was excellent, the 24hr restuarant was also good. Some reviews say it had plastic cups and plates, so what it was all very clean. The cabins were small and the bathroom could do with some more up to date fittings, but how long are you in your cabin, just to shower…
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This is the first time we had been on a cruise and we were a bit nervous about how it would be.
The first time we steped onto the gangplank we were welcomed by lots of the crew.We were shown to our cabin on deck 3 it was a bit tired and dark but everything was in there.Over night we had a flood and we phoned reception everything was moved out ,all of our clothes were laundered and we were moved to deck 7 the cabin was exellent and the crew sent up a bottle of wine and fruit .The service was…
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They say A picture is worth a thousand words, so look at these and decide yourself. http://www.flickr.com/photos/north_east_keith/sets/72157628206306091/show/
These photo's were taken in the cabin we were allocated after we paid to upgrade to an outside cabin with a sea view.
We have been offered a £300 holiday voucher or £180 cash compensation from Thomson (the upgrade cost more than that!. I am now going through ABTA to sort this out.
The ship is an old 1982 North Sea Ferry and has been…
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Guest's Response to Keithsd80's Review

Written on: 23/04/2012

Yes this is an old ferry( never north sea ferries though). We went on it last year and are going again in may. The food was always nice, the entertainment good and all the staff so polite, pleasant and always attentive. We have been on other cruises which are more upmarket but so is the price you pay. Make sure you do your homework before you go so you are not in for a shock to find the Island Escape probably the smallest and oldest ship in every port you go to. At the end of the day this is sold as a 3* cruise so you cant expect 5* food and surroundings. The crew are so good i think Thomson should seriously think about buying them a newer ship!!!

Our Island Escape' cruise ship holiday was the best time we've ever had! It may have been our first experience of a cruise, but it will certainly not be our last! To wake up every morning to a different sunny location and eat breakfast on the deck and just take it all in, was priceless. The entertainment on our trip was something else! From the show team with their excellent musicals to characters like Ginger Dan and Duke Christopher was a treat. They were so professional and entertaining. Not…
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Had better school diners than the food onboard.
Decided to pay the extra in the waiter served restaurant, I've had better pub grub than what they served up.
Seen better entertainment in the local pub then on this cruise.
Pestered by waiters and photographers all day and night, must be on a rating system.
Cabin very old fixtures.
Not enough sunbeds or even chairs outside, miniscule sized pool.
etc. etc. etc.
Our 1st cruise, never again, put off cruising for life…
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The Island Escape used to be a ferry and it shows - the ship was not built with cruising in mind and needs to be pensioned off. Thomson is not doing itself any favours in renting this ship.
The food is excellent with a good variety of options at all times of the day and night and the staff work hard however, the ship is sadly lacking. It is tatty, shabby and tired. The corridor walls to some cabins are stained and the cabins themselves are in a bad state.
If you dont mind sleeping in clean…
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I went on a cruise on May 17th-24th and I have to admit reading the reviews did worry me but I had nothing to worry about. The rooms aren't very big in the standard cabin but was big enough for me, my brother, my mum and dad. The Cabin attendant Lawry was excellent! Cleaning the room at least twice a day with fresh towels the whole time and he would always make a animal out of a towel. The food is amazing, we were all inclusive so ate at the beachcomer and the Island restaurant on floor 6. The…
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I went on a cruise on May 17th-24th and I have to admit reading the reviews did worry me but I had nothing to worry about. The rooms aren't very big in the standard cabin but was big enough for me, my brother, my mum and dad. The Cabin attendant Lawry was excellent! Cleaning the room at least twice a day with fresh towels the whole time and he would always make a animal out of a towel. The food is amazing, we were all inclusive so ate at the beachcomer and the Island restaurant on floor 6. The…
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This was our second trip on the island escape. Yes the ship is in need of a refit and is more than a little dated but we still had a better holiday than we would of at a hotel somewhere.
We were on deck 3 and apart from some engine noise and some buzzing we found it lovely, you don't get any rocking at all. Yes the cabins are small but as it was only used for sleeping in I can't fault it al all.
The staff were very friendly alsways saying hello each time they passed you and asking if you were…
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LET ME START BY SAYING,WE HAD A GREAT CRUISE ON THE ISLAND ESCAPE,FOOD EX STAFF EX,SHOWS EX ,TRIPS EX.YES WE WOULD DO IT AGAIN.THE SHIP IS DATED AND NEEDS DOING UP BUT DO NOT LET IT PUT YOU OFF BOOKING.IT WAS OUR FIRST CRUISE AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.I WAS SHOCKED AT THE ROOM SIZES AND THE DATED CARPETS ETC, BUT WE USED IT AS A BASE. WHEN WE BOOKED THE CRUISE IT WAS THE PORTS OF CALL WE LIKES AND NOT THE SHIP…
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Hi de Hi !!!! Would i go again? absolutley no way thats my honest opinion .
Having spent 7 nights on this tatty old ship I was glad to be home.
I booked this cruise some months ago and was very worried about the negative reviews but thought i would wait to see for myself. The cabin was small very old fittings and the bed linen was stained ..just grotty. 2 days in felt unwell sneezing coughing and shivering ( despite using hand sanitizer )the air con was always set very cold which was ok in…
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